A blockbuster done right

Rating: 7/10 (5 October 2013)

Pacific rim has everything a blockbuster needs: Great graphics, great action, an interesting storyline, simple characters, cheesy lines, and a decent bit of humor.
The graphics are top of the line. And unlike some movies *cough* Transformers 2 *cough*, the action scenes are actually immersing and thrilling, rather than confusing. They are also regularly interspersed with some storyline, so they don't get too drawn out.
The story is your basic alien invasion science fiction with some small differences. I'm not going to give away anything more, though to be honest there isn't all that much I could tell you that you would really regret hearing. The movie isn't about story, even if it's interesting enough that it could have been.
There will be some plot devices that you will see coming from miles away. But the movie also occasionally and refreshingly differentiates from the norm. For example: not everyone you expect will get eaten by the monsters.
As for the acting, this seems to be criticized mostly. And although the characters are shallow, I can't say that the acting was so bad that I actually noticed. In fact I kinda thought the little Asian girl did an exceptional job, and I rarely notice good acting. I also rarely notice bad acting, so maybe I'm not the best compass in this area.
Humor is also important for a blockbuster. Since the story is about an apocalyptic event, the amount of humor is sparse, but it's placed in the right moments where you can use a bit of laugh. Without it the whole thing would just be a bit too depressing.
Pacific Rim not a masterpiece by any means, which seems to be why some critics give it terrible ratings. But like all movies, you should watch it in the spirit it was intended, in this case: a mindless thrill. This is where it succeeds well, and even above expectations. I'd put it on par with the classic 'Independence Day'. With a bit of luck this movie will reach that same status.